Hope Behind Bars Africa, an NGO focused on prison reform, has inaugurated two renovated education centres at a custodial facility in Nasarawa State, opening formal academic pathways for 666 inmates housed at the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Keffi.

Hope Behind Bars Africa, with funding from the Royal Norwegian Embassy, refurbished and equipped a National Open University of Nigeria Study Centre and a National Business and Technical Examinations Board Centre at the facility under its Civic Accord Project. The intervention included repairing ceilings, walls, doors and electrical fittings, installing additional lighting, and donating 18 desktop computers, a 3KVA solar inverter system, a three in one printer, whiteboards, 500 exercise books, 400 textbooks, 20 tables and chairs, as well as stationery items.

Represented by Programmes Manager Nurudeen Hassan at the handover ceremony held on Wednesday in Keffi, HBBA Executive Director Mrs Funke Adeoye described the inauguration as a significant milestone in the organisation's efforts to promote access to justice and dignity for vulnerable Nigerians.

"Hope Behind Bars Africa is built on the conviction that every Nigerian, regardless of circumstance, deserves access to justice, dignity and the opportunity to rebuild their life. Today, we mark a significant milestone with the formal inauguration and handover of the newly renovated NOUN Study Centre and NABTEB Centre at the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Keffi New," she stated.

Hassan disclosed that before the intervention, the centres existed in name only, with virtually no equipment inside. He added that HBBA, established about eight years ago, had since worked with more than 10,000 inmates through access to justice programmes. "People should not enter correctional facilities and come out worse than when they entered. When inmates have access to education and vocational opportunities, they become more useful to themselves and society when they regain their freedom," he told journalists.

Controller of Corrections for Nasarawa State Command, Mr Anthony Sanda, commended the organisation for extending its reach to the Keffi facility. "Some inmates came here without certificates. Now they have opportunities to acquire qualifications and skills that can make them useful to themselves, their communities and the nation when they leave here," he remarked.

Officer in Charge of the facility, Chief Superintendent of Corrections Samaila Bulus, noted that the centres would help address the emotional and psychological challenges that inmates face during incarceration. The Youth Africa Leaders Initiative Network also donated books to strengthen the library component of the newly equipped centres.